Innovative Project Planning and Management

 

 

siloed marketing, design and engineering teams

Work as a collaborative team to reduce iterations and improve project flow.

Our work with marketing, design and engineering teams over the past several decades has been an interesting and challenging journey. We have been lucky in our work with diverse teams in different industries.

There are common challenges and goals for all teams working on concepts for innovative products and services. Whatever business you are in, there are a few fundamentals for application in the planning and execution of your projects.

The Design Brief is the project roadmap.

Every project begins with a design brief including constraints on time, budget, and performance metrics. These guidelines, of course, are established after an agreement is reached on the design or project brief with key stakeholders. The problem statement, resources, assignments and measurable goals must be included in the brief. A well-written brief will help guide the team from research through production release and market launch.

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Fredricks Design, Inc. Announces Partnership with Siemens

Fredricks Design, Inc. Announces Partnership with Siemens

Siemens+Fredricks Partnership

We are delighted to announce our strategic partnership with Siemens to provide product lifecycle management (PLM) solutions, Teamcenter, NX, Solid Edge software to our Clients.

Our partnership with Siemens leverages the range of software, technology and consulting solutions offered by Siemens with our deep experience for application with Client teams in diverse markets. The agreement includes identified companies in Western Michigan, Northern Indiana and Chicago.

Rogerio Miquel will lead the technical offering supported by our research, marketing, design and engineering team and the global Siemens organization.

“This strategic agreement was developed over the past several months based on our belief that we can make a positive impact on product development from early ideation through production release, manufacturing and distribution”, stated Maury Fredricks.

We will work with Client teams to explore systems improvements for business growth, enhanced performance and better profitability. Please stay tuned for future updates and detailed case studies.

Contact us anytime to schedule an exploratory discussion about your current systems and different ways we can work together.

Thanks for our past and future work with your team!

Maury Fredricks

CEO

Fredricks Design, Inc.

Fredricks Design, Inc. is a full-service design and engineering firm based in Grand Haven, Michigan. The firm specializes in working as an extension of the client studio and engineering team to identify the right problems and accelerate development of business and product solutions from early ideation, feasibility, concept development and production of mock-ups, prototypes and show properties. Fredricks works with key Clients to develop automotive cockpits, interiors and seating, advanced rides and show action projects for themed attractions, furniture, healthcare and consumer products.

fredricks.com

 

You are Affected by PLM. What is PLM and How to Stop It?

You are Affected by PLM. What is PLM and How to Stop It?

This article is not about stopping a wide-spread, silent and dangerous disease as the title may suggest, but you’re here now so let’s talk about PLM, Product Lifecycle Management. To put it dryly, it’s an information management system that can integrate data, processes, business systems and, ultimately, people in an extended enterprise. [1] Most importantly, it’s a disciplined way to connect and supercharge a ridonkulous amount of information in your company to get a product to market faster, decrease redundant activities, and increase profits. To readers not operating “extended enterprises”, you can imagine PLM to be like the work of ecologists who study complex, living ecosystems. (more…)

Fredricks Announces the Addition of Dave Miller to Our Team!

Fredricks Announces the Addition of Dave Miller to Our Team!

Dave Miller

On February 19, 2018, Fredricks Design, Inc. welcomed Dave Miller, BSME, to our team.

Dave graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. He spent the last few years as an engineer in the manufacturing environment at Gentex Corporation in Zeeland, MI. His true passion is in new product development, design, and engineering. He brings a strong skill sets in 3D CAD modeling, prototyping, testing, design for manufacturability and understanding of the manufacturing process. Dave will be a tremendous asset to the design and engineering team at Fredricks Design and our Clients. He will be based in our Grand Haven, Michigan studio.

Please join us with an enthusiastic welcome for Dave!

Maury Fredricks

CEO

Fredricks Design, Inc.

Fredricks Design, Inc. is a full-service design and engineering firm based in Grand Haven, Michigan. The firm specializes in working as an extension of the client studio and engineering team to identify the right problems and accelerate development of solutions from early ideation, feasibility, concept development and production of mock-ups, prototypes and show properties. Fredricks works with key Clients in the automotive interiors and seating industries, advanced rides and show action projects for themed attractions, furniture, and consumer products markets.

fredricks.com

 

Autoshow 2018: Tricky Times Ahead

Autoshow 2018: Tricky Times Ahead

2018 Ford GT at Detroit Auto Show

Image courtesy of Maury Fredricks

Just returned from a trip to attend the Industry Preview Days at the Autoshow in Detroit. It’s about a three-hour drive down I-96 from our home in Grand Haven. Typically, drivers are doing an average of 15 over the prescribed limit and traffic is tight in spots. You can move swiftly across the state and it’s worth the drive to check out the NAIAS, the Autoshow. As designers and engineers, we go to witness and take note of styling and technical trends. For us, it’s a bit of a museum of the past and lens to the future. Ironically, the most innovative vehicles shown may be the death of the show itself.

As I confirmed through multiple conversations at Cobo Hall, the show is dying from the inside. Difficult to change the course of a large ship and the NAIAS is at risk of not being able to adapt to the blurring social and technological landscape. (more…)